Summary translation

Metabolic trials were conducted with growing pigs (34-45 kg bw) of the old landrace breed “Schwäbisch Hällisch” and a modern crossbreed, each supplied with a basal ration and a supplemental ration supplemented with pea hulls rich in unsoluble non starch polysaccharides (NSP). The basal ration supplied 80% of the energy and 100% of the amino acid requirements for daily gains of 700g. The energy deficit was intended to be covered as far as possible by the supplemental pea hulls. Studied items comprised nutrient digestibilities, N-balances, morphophysiological, histomorphometric and transport physiological parameters of the intestinal mucosa as well as molecular biologically characterised intestinal microbial communities. Pea hull supplementation caused enlarged and higher filling values of hind gut sections, accelerated digesta passage rates, increased fecal N combined with reduced proportions of bacterial N and lower urinary N-excretions of the pigs indepently of their genetic provenience. The histomorphology, the transport physiology of the jejunal and ileal mucosa as well as the composition of the intestinal microbial communities were neither significantly affected by the pea hull supplement nor by the pig genetic. The digestive potential for the utilisation of unsoluble NSP did not differ between the two pig breeds. However, since CB-pigs retained more nitrogen and from an ecological and economical point of view, pigs of this breed appear better suited for organic farming than pigs of the SH-breed.